Blogging from Beijing

I spent most of the day packing and organizing things I want to take back. On top of the list are gifts for co-workers, friends and anyone who's made the transition of living in a foreign country easy for me.

And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate (specifically Hershey's Kisses).

If you answered anything but "PENN STATE!" stop reading this blog post now and take a drive to central Pennsylvania. You'll pass a few cows, a few more cows and then finally find yourself in the middle of one of the most energetic, crazy and downright cool places in the Northeast: Penn State University.

I spent the day yesterday at Penn State, visiting friends and professors. The main purpose of the trip was to visit the professor, Dr. Bu Zhong, who had played an essential role in acquiring a job in Beijing. Dr. Zhong has ties in almost all media outlets in China. He's well connected.

He and I talked, asking each other questions and passing on words of advice. Dr. Zhong will be visiting Beijing with a class of students in international reporting sometime in March. I said I was more than willing to meet them and answer questions or just show them around the city if they liked.

I had lunch in the HUB and met up with a few friends. It was nice sitting around, watching students rush off to class with their backpacks and coffees in hand, knowing that I did not have to do the same. I was an alum now. Out of the system. A "real" person. It was a relaxing feeling.

I met up with a few friends before heading down to the the Daily Collegian. Again, being in the office but know that I could leave whenever I wanted was a refreshing feeling. I sat around the office, talking for a bit, but soon felt out of place, since everyone had a task but me. I said my goodbyes and headed home.

As I passed Beaver Stadium, a hollow feeling sunk in. Happy Valley, where I had spent four years of my life learning, growing and unknowingly preparing for my current life in Beijing, seemed foreign. It was strange being back, but even stranger leaving. Graduating had been the "see you later" but this was the real goodbye.

And as Beaver Stadium and the university lights faded off into the distance, I began humming the Penn State fight song and thinking to myself, We are...

My parents had a few friends over for a Welcome Home- Graduation- Going Away party. My cousins and aunt came up and a few other people I haven't seen in a while visited too.

As people arrived, the questions began. By the end of it, I must have sounded like a broken record. The 3 most asked questions were:

1. Do you like it?
2. How's your Chinese?
3. Do you have a Chinese girlfriend?

To which I answered:

1. No, I love it.
2. I'm getting there.
3. Not yet.

Despite the last answer, a few people accused me of already having a girlfriend and keeping it secret. I was serious in my answer. I don't have a girlfriend...yet.

In my time at home, many people have made the comment that I'm very brave, that they would never be able to do something like, esepcially haven't graduated only a few months ago. I suppose in a way it does take a certain amount of courage, to move around the world away from my family. But having survived four years in State College I think I can handle myself.

I met up today with two of my best friends from the Daily Collegian today- Brianna Labuskes and Marissa Carl. Bri and Marissa were the assistant copy chief and copy chief, respectively, for the student newspaper. In other words, they were my bosses. Marissa also brought another mutual friend, Julie Reis, also a former member of the Daily Collegian.

Marissa, Bri and I had been on the same staff (copy desk) for a year at the Collegian and became close friends through late nights reading copy and designing pages. The three of us went on a cruise over spring break to Mexico.

We met at an Outback Steakhouse (one of my favorite restaurants) to catch up on gossip, each other's lives and to talk about my adventures in China.

Marissa recently finished an internship with the Wall Street Journal. She currently has a job in NYC working for an online business magazine. Bri found a job straight out of college working for a newspaper company in New York state. Julie is finishing an internship.

They all had questions about my job, apartment and life in Beijing, but I was just as interested as what they were up to.

It was great seeing my friends, but sad at the same time. It would probably be close to a year before I saw them again, but they promised to e-mail and keep up with news from home. We'll also be making plans for our reunion cruise, maybe along the Yangtze or to New Zealand.

I'll be flying back to Beijing in one week. I really should have planned this trip a little better, maybe stayed home for three weeks. I fly back Thursday. Friday is my brother's first football game. Saturday is the kick off for Penn State's football season. I'm missing out on two big games.

I'm already getting e-mails from the staff at BJR telling me I need to return quick. My workload has been shifted to one of the other foreign experts, who is about to "revolt."

I can honestly say I've never been this glad to be home. Even while at State College, I never really missed my home, probably because I knew all I had to do was hop in my car and drive two hours for some good home cooking. Now, I live on the other side of the world, making it slightly more difficult to come home on weekends.

So what have I been up to? Not a whole lot. My main focus has been eating as much Western food as possible. I lost a little weight over the past three months (enough for people to ask) so I've been packing on the carbs and protein and eating a massive breakfast every morning. And absolutely... positively... no Chinese takeout.

The only disappointment came when I found out my favorite lunch spot in Tamaqua was temporarily closed. The Broadstreet Deli makes my favorite sandwiches (another food I'm hard pressed to find in China).

This weekend I'll be going to see some friends from Penn State. My parents will also be having some family friends over for a Welcome Home- Graduation - Going Away party. It's for anyone who didn't get to see me after I graduated, since I accepted my diploma and pretty much jumped on a plane for China.

I took a bus from NYC to Wescoesville, about 30 minutes from Tamaqua. As we were pulling into the bus terminal, I saw my mom. The bus hadn't even stopped, and already she was crying. When I got off the bus, she completely broke down. We hugged, kissed and found my baggage. I'll admit, I almost cried too, but I pulled it together.

My dad came over from work to see me before I headed back to our house. We chit chatted before heading home.

My brother, Michael, was at football practice and wouldn't be home til later. But I already knew what his reaction would be when he saw me for the first time in three months. I wouldn't probably be something like this:

SCENE 3 - Brother's reunited

BRANDON sits anxiously in kitchen or dining room awaiting brother, MICHAEL's, return. He hears his brothers car pull along the house. The side door opens. Enter MICHAEL.

MICHAEL drops his football bag. Looks up and sees BRANDON.

MICHAEL: Hey.

[Short pause]

BRANDON: Sup

[Short pause]

MICHAEL: Not much

[Both turn and leave room in opposite directions]

Ok, so it wasn't quite that sullen. My mom had claimed that my brother had said he "missed me" but the last time I'd heard the words "missed me" it was followed by "missed me and my Jeep."

He did come home from football and drop his bag, turning around to see me. We did the usual bro hug and asked what each was up to. For some reason, he decided to try out for football this year. My parents would never let me go out before, since he was too small and would probably get broken in half. After two years of weight training, he looked like he could take a few hits. Despite his enthusiasm, football is just "OK" as he describes it.

Friends would be coming over for dinner that night. My mom asked me what kind of food I wanted while I was home.

"Anything but rice and noodles," I said. "And nothing that even remotely resembles chicken feet or pig hoof."

A BURGER KING IN NEW YORK CITY - I stayed in the city with my friend from college, Mike Roman, so I could take care of my visa business as soon as possible. My HR people at Beijing Review were able to get me the necessary documents before I left and it makes the most sense to just take care of this now.

The documents are pretty cool: two formal invitations from the Chinese Government and China International Publishing Group (CIPG). I'm not sure what they say, but I think it's something like "We, the Government of the People's Republic of China, does hereby grant BRANDON TAYLOR permission to stay in China and work... ". With this, I'll be able to get a Z visa and my Foreign Expert Certificate.

Mike and his girlfriend, Gianelle, picked me up at the Newark airport at around midnight last night. He and I have been friends since freshman year at Penn State, when we both found ourselves in supplemental housing with four other roommates. We made the best of the living situation by becoming close friends.

Mike lives in Brooklyn, so after spending the night at his house I took the subway into the city to the Chinese consulate. I've visited Mike many times before and the ride to his house (and his neighborhood in general) are kind of intimidating for a small town guy from Northeast Pa. This time, I was unfazed. New York City has 7 million people - Beijing has 17 million. Going into downtown Manhattan was a walk in the park.

Once at the consulate, I stood in line and turned in my visa application, passport and two official documents. The woman behind the booth took a look at the letter and her eyes lit up. Official government documents. I would have my passport, with Z visa, by 2 p.m.

LONDON - After about 9 hours and five inflight movies, I'm finally in London. The flight wasn't too bad; the movies were.

I found myself watching Rocky and The Birds for the simple fact that I haven't seen either. Rocky put me to sleep (I couldn't understand half the things Stalone was staying) and the birds is just too "classic" to keep my attention while I anticipate my return to the states.

From London to Newark my seat will be upgraded. This caused quite a stir this morning when my mom called and said my flight had been cancelled but that I should go to the airport anyway. Yes, go to the airport so I can get to London to sit in London and wait for a flight to get out of London.

Waiting for that flight now and looking forward to being home.

Just when I was getting used to the whole living in Beijing thing, another curve ball gets thrown my way: I have to return to the States. Apparently, in order to officially work in China, I have to apply for a special work permit from my home nation. 


I found out I'd need to return home just one week before my visa expires. 


While I was somewhat disappointed to have to leave, it will be nice to be home. I'm especially looking forward to a good home cooked meal - mac and cheese with meatloaf and my Dad's famous spaghetti are on the top of my list of must-have meals while home. Seeing my parents will be nice too, since I won't be able to come home again for a while after signing my contract with Beijing Review.


My flight leaves Tuesday morning. 21 hours, with a four hour layover in London. The flight home will be 25.5 hours, 7 hour layover in London.


I'll be home for two weeks, so if anyone wants to get together and buy me a beer, please send me an email and I'm sure we can work something out.